Skarsgård and Schafer Join Maddin Directors in New Film

Alexander Skarsgård and Hunter Schafer have joined the cast of a new feature film from Canadian directors Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson, and Evan Johnson.

The project, titled 'The Confessions,' is being introduced at the American Film Market. CAA Media Finance and WME Independent are jointly representing North American rights, while the French sales company Charades handles international distribution. Elevation Pictures will distribute the film in Canada, with Telefilm Canada providing production support.

The movie is billed as a cautionary psycho-dramedy. It follows condemned nuns who witness a cursed love triangle that spans the globe. A missing sea captain and his poet wife are central to that story. The premise continues the directors' pattern of blending surreal narratives across different genres.

Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen's production company, Square Peg, is producing the feature. This marks a renewed partnership for Aster and Maddin after they worked together on the political satire 'Rumours.' Daniel Bekerman's Scythia Films and Thin Stuff, the production company of Galen Johnson, Evan Johnson, and Fritzi Adelman, are also involved. This structure brings together Square Peg in the United States with two Canadian entities.

Aster stated that Maddin and the Johnson brothers are among his favorite filmmakers. He described the screenplay as singular and beguiling. The directors issued a statement using religious and maritime imagery to describe the project. They also celebrated the involvement of the four lead actors: Skarsgård, Schafer, Maya Hawke, and Harry Melling.

The trio's previous feature, 'Rumours,' screened out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024. That absurdist comedy starred Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander, and Charles Dance. It followed world leaders who lost their way in the woods during a G7 summit. It was the first feature film the three directors made together.

The production companies behind 'The Confessions' have diverse credits. Square Peg has produced 'Bugonia,' 'Midsommar,' and 'The Drama.' Scythia Films credits include 'The Witch,' 'The Apprentice,' and 'Falling.' Thin Stuff has worked on 'Rumours,' 'A.Rimbaud,' and 'Strong Son.'